PECUNIARY RESULT. 149 



able to appreciate the capabilities of pisciculture as a 

 commercial speculation. We Lave no doubt that their 

 fishing property in Gal way will be managed so liberally 

 as to yield important results, and put to shame the 

 want of enterprise displayed by the fishing proprietors 

 of the Tay. The experiment at Stormontfield, besides 

 its scientific value, has in a pecuniary view been very 

 satisfactory. " We have no doubt about the matter," 

 observes Mr Brown, " for on referring to a statement of 

 the rental of the Tay, published by the proprietors 

 themselves, we find that in the year 1828 the year of 

 the passing of Home Drummond's Act the rental was 

 14,574. It gradually fell every year afterwards un- 

 til 1852, when it reached the minimum of 7973. In 

 1853 the artificial rearing commenced, and in 1858 the 

 rental was 11,487. It has now, 1862, reached what 

 it was in 1858. We are aware that other reasons are 

 given for the rise in the rental, such as the extra price 

 of the fish in the London market ; but we should like 

 to know how it happens that all the other rivers in 

 Scotland (with the exception, perhaps, of the Suther- 

 land rivers, which have the same market for their fish) 

 have, since 1852, had a lower rental instead of a higher." 

 Even after making allowance for the benefit derivable 

 from the earlier closing of the Tay during the years 

 1853-4-5, which was legalised by an Act passed in 

 1858, Mr Brown is " of opinion that the great rise in 

 the rental in nine years, cannot be accounted for in 

 any other way than from the pond-bred fish ; and if the 

 fishing proprietors would see to their own interests, 

 they would have many acres of breeding boxes and 

 ponds made to rear and preserve their fish. At present, 

 however, their rental is in the ascendant, and they are 

 contented ; but should a reverse take place, we would 

 then see artificial propagation much in favour." We 

 cannot conclude without beseeching them to get rid of 

 the narrow-minded feelings which have induced them to 

 refuse the request of those soliciting a supply of salmon 



